Early doctors made wild claims

8:41 PM,
Jan. 11, 2013

Written by

Catharine Hadley
Staff writer

In the late 1800s, manufacturers of patent medicines and doctors made outlandish claims.

Author Grace Luebke published "Elmore, Ohio, A History Preserved" in 1975. In one chapter, she described the state of medicine in that era.

"Patent medicines were sold in the drug store and the citizenry were advised of their merit by ads in the paper, such as 'Rocky Mountain Tea will bring attractiveness to listless, unlovable girls, making them handsome, marriageable women. Ask your druggist, I.N. Penfield. 35 cents.' 'The Texas cowboys take Simmons Liver Regulator when bilious.' ...